THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO STAINING FURNITURE
TECHNIQUES FOR A PROFESSIONAL WOOD FINISH
If you have ever had a stain go blotchy, come out the wrong color, or just not look the way you pictured, this guide is for you. The Complete Guide to Staining Furniture covers everything from wood species and product compatibility to application technique and troubleshooting, so you understand not just what to do but why it works.
90+
PAGES
Instant
DOWNLOAD
NEXT LEVEL
TECHNIQUES
REAL
TECHNIQUES. REAL RESULTS
SOUND FAMILIAR?​
You have painted furniture.
But staining feels like a whole different world.
Maybe you have tried it and it did not go the way you hoped. Maybe you have never tried it at all because you are not sure where to start or what products to use. Either way, staining does not have to be intimidating.
​
This guide answers all of it. No fluff, no filler. Just a clear honest roadmap from someone who has stained hundreds of pieces and knows exactly where things go wrong and how to fix them.
Over 90 pages. Everything you need to actually start staining.
WHAT'S INSIDE
Understanding Wood and How It Takes Stain
Why the same stain looks completely different on different woods and what to do about it.
Oil Based vs. Water Based Stains
How to choose the right formula and why that decision affects everything that comes after it.
Preparing Your Surface for Stain
The full prep sequence from stripping to sanding to conditioning — because stain reveals everything.
Penetrating Stains
How to apply, wipe off, and build color with the most common stain type.
Gel Stains
When gel stain is the better choice and how the working process is completely different from penetrating stain.
Blending Sticks, Touch UP and Hard Wax Fill
How to make repairs disappear after staining so the piece looks flawless in person.
Topcoats
How to protect everything you built with the right product applied the right way.
Wood Species Guide
Oak, pine, maple, poplar, walnut and veneer — what to expect from each one.
Troubleshooting
Blotchy stain, products that will not adhere, color that went wrong — and how to fix it.
A Look inside
BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF
This guide is for you - and it's not.
THIS IS FOR YOU IF…
​​​
-
You paint furniture and want to add staining to your skill set.
-
You have tried staining before and it did not turn out the way you planned.
-
You are tired of inconsistent results and want to understand why things go wrong.
-
You want one clear resource instead of piecing together information from 47 different places.
-
You are ready to do the work and learn the process properly.
THIS IS NOT FOR YOU IF…
​
-
You have never refinished a piece of furniture before. Start with my Beginner's Guide to Furniture Refinishing.
-
You want someone to make staining sound easier than it is.
-
You are looking for a shortcut that skips the prep work.
-
You want a business guide. That's my Refinish and Profit book. More info HERE.
-
You don't want to learn how to do the work.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, I'm Charene - and I've been right where you are.
I started refinishing furniture in my garage with no background, no training, and no idea what I was doing. I learned painting first. Then prep. Then stripping. Staining was the skill I held back on the longest because it took real experience before I felt confident teaching it.
Now I run Olive Street Designs with over 575,000 followers across YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram and I have helped thousands of people build real refinishing skills through my guides and my content.
This guide is the staining resource I wish I had when I was figuring it out the hard way.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Real feedback from real people.
I have refinished plenty of pieces but staining always felt intimidating. This guide gave me everything I needed to finally feel confident enough to try it.
​
- Sarah M.
I had stained a few pieces but always ended up with blotchy inconsistent results and had no idea why. This guide was exactly what I needed to figure out where I was going wrong.
-Jennifer R.
"I have admired beautiful wood restorations for years but never thought I had the skills to pull it off. After reading this I finally do."
-Lisa K.
QUESTIONS
Before you ask- here's the deal.
Is this for complete beginners?
No. This book is best for those that have refinished a few pieces and now want to add staining to your skillset. ​ If you are a total beginner, my Beginner's Guide to Furniture Refinishing may be the best place to start.
​
What format is it?
PDF digital download. You get it instantly after purchase. No waiting, no shipping and you can print it at home if you want a hard copy.
​
Do I need expensive tools to get started?
No. Basic staining requires very little beyond rags, brushes, and sandpaper. The one tool worth investing in for a truly professional finish is a paint sprayer for topcoat application, but the book covers brush application as well for those who are not ready for that step.
​
How is this different than your YouTube Channel?
The channel shows you projects. This guide gives you the foundation, the skills, the workflow, and the mistakes, all in one organized place. It's the starting point the channel can't fully replace.
​
What if I want to learn the business side too?
Check out Refinish & Profit. Once you have the skills to produce a professional finish, that is the book that shows you how to turn those skills into real income. Sourcing, pricing, selling and building a business around furniture refinishing all in one place.
Bundle both guides and Save!
If you are ready to go beyond staining alone, the Strip and Stain Bundle gives you both guides together at a better price.
The Complete Guide to Stripping Furniture teaches you how to remove old finishes and properly prepare the surface, while The Complete Guide to Staining Furniture walks you through choosing the right stain, building color, and protecting the final finish.
Together they give you the full process from old finish to beautiful stained wood.